MidemLab 2013: Decksi, Eazieer, Evergig, Mixgar, Murfie

MidemLab 2013: Decksi, Eazieer, Evergig, Mixgar, Murfie

Today we continue our journey through the hottest new start-ups in the music industry by looking at the first half of entries in the “Direct-to-Consumer Sales & Content Monetisation” category for the MidemLab 2013 competition.

Decksi brings to the digital age the concept of collecting and sharing trading cards. The company can create digital decks for artists, shows and brands that fans then share and trade online. Decksi can be played on Facebook or embedded on any site, but users will still need to allow access to their Facebook data in the latter case. The cards can contain music, photos, videos, or anything that the artist or brand decides to share. The business model is a mix of micro-transactions and high-value video advertising.

Eazieer is a platform that aims to provide artists with all the necessary tools to emerge online. A one-stop-shop for bands, it provides a way to control releases, live shows, merchandise, social marketing and track sales automatically. The company offers three tiers of subscription, a “Freemium” option as well as a “Pro” and “Premium” option that would give artists the widest distribution. Eazieer set itself a tough challenge by entering a space where established players like Topspin and Reverbnation have been operating for years. The product will have to be extremely compelling and stable to draw a considerable user base.

Evergig is a start-up that aims to create crowd-sourced videos of concerts with high definition sound that can be monetized. Fans can upload their videos of a gig via the Evergig’s mobile app, the service then uses proprietary technology to synch each video to the sound coming directly from the venue’s desk and pick the best quality clips. The video is meant to evolve so that if new clips are uploaded they are integrated in the end-result as well. Evergig’s model is freemium and there is no detailed information right now on price points for access. The concept is fascinating, it will certainly require a lot of effort on the ground to get as many fans as possible to shoot video clips and also to obtain the recording of the concert directly from the venue.

Mixgar wants to create a social Jukebox where users get to vote for their favorite tracks through a mobile app whilst hanging out in a coffee shop, restaurant or bar. The service will also be able to recommend venues that are likely to play music you like based on your Facebook data, although for that feature to come in handy it will have to reach critical mass. Mixgar is in use in over 30 venues in Budapest and plans to go international soon. Monetization will come from venues paying to access the application or accepting sponsorships from brands.

Murfie wants to help you get rid of that space-consuming CD collection whilst retaining full ownership of it. But how does it work? Customers simply have to send Murfie their CDs, which will be ripped and put into storage. They will then have the choice to either put the CDs up for sale (keeping 70% of proceeds) or simply keep the CDs in storage retaining full ownership. Customers can also download a copy of the CDs they sent, for a fee. There are a couple of catches to this process though, due to copyright issues. First if you send the collection to Murfie you’re technically not allowed to keep digital copies on your hard drive. Second if you choose to download a CD that you sent Murfie you can no longer list that CD for sale. Overall, this is a great idea and a valid options for those seeking to make some room in their home, but perspective users are advised to read all the terms and conditions to make sure they are happy with the deal on the table.